Glacial Periods in Earth’s History
Major Glaciations
- Huronian Glaciation (2.4 - 2.1 Ga): One of the
earliest recorded glaciations.
- Cryogenian “Snowball Earth” (700 - 650 Ma): Period
of global-scale glaciation.
- Phanerozoic Glaciations:
- Andean/Saharan (450 - 420 Ma)
- Karoo (360 - 260 Ma)
- Cenozoic (34 Ma - Present)
Pleistocene Glaciation
- Cycles of glacial and interglacial periods driven by
Milankovitch Cycles.
- Last Glacial Maximum (20 ka): Ice sheets covered
~30% of land.